SEGMENT INFORMATION - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 2,012	$ 2,016
Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	937	968
Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	392	404
OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	351	324
Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	306	293
Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	26	27
Bausch Lomb/ International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,114	1,118
Bausch Lomb/ International | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	201	217
Bausch Lomb/ International | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	341	366
Bausch Lomb/ International | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	351	324
Bausch Lomb/ International | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	203	191
Bausch Lomb/ International | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	18	20
Salix
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	477	445
Salix | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	477	445
Salix | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Salix | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Salix | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Salix | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Ortho Dermatologics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	133	138
Ortho Dermatologics | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	77	95
Ortho Dermatologics | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	51	38
Ortho Dermatologics | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Ortho Dermatologics | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Ortho Dermatologics | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	5	5
Diversified Products
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	288	315
Diversified Products | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	182	211
Diversified Products | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Diversified Products | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Diversified Products | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	103	102
Diversified Products | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 3	$ 2